Wire-stretcher.



APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. |915,l

y PatntedLOot. 2,1917.

B. H. SOUTHLAND.

' WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLlcATloN FILED APR. 2'1. |915.

Patented Oct. 2,1917. v

narran srarns narrar onirica.

BENJAMIN H. SOUTHIIAND, OF SHERMAN, CALIFORNIA, DF SHERMAN, CALIFORNIA.

EARL J. ITILLIAIVIS,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. a, ier t.

Application filed April 27, 1915. Serial No. 24,289.

To all whom t 'may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. SOUTH- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residunder heavy tension, and it has particular reference to an improved wire clamp which will engage and hold the wire positively against slipping without bending, kinking or otherwise injuring the wire.

A further object of the invention vis to produce a wedge clamp which will operate smoothly and without undue friction so far as engagement with the wire is concerned and which may be very readily applied and detached, as may be'requir'ed.

A further object ofthe invention is to produce a clamp of the character described which will be vsimple in construction, ineX- pensive, and capable of resisting any'strain to which it may be subjected.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein eXhibited, but that changes, alterations and modications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings l Figure 1 is ya view in front elevation `of the improved clamp.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the clamp with the face plate detached.

Fig. 5 is a front view showing the body member of the clamp with the face plate and the wedge detached.

connection may be made with the Fig. 6 is a rear view showing the wedge detached.

Fig. 7 is a sectional line 7&7 in Fig. 3.

- Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The body member of the improved clamp consists of a plate or casting 15 of oblong shape having in its front face a recess 16 producing along the upper portion of said body member an overhanging ange 17 and along the lower portion a shoulderor offset 18. Said shoulder, which defines the lower wall ofthe recess 16, is inclined with reference to the flange 17, the recess 15' beingv of tapering form, as shown. The bottom of the recess is provided with a'longitudinal groove 19 which is formed in parallel relation to the lower wall of the recess and at no great distance therefrom. The shoulder defining the lower wall of the recess is provided intermediate its ends with a recess or cavity 20. The body member is formed on its rearward side with a longitudinally disposed inclined reinforcing rib coinciding` with the groove 19 so that said bodymenr ber will not be materially weakened by the formation of said groove. ber is alsov formed with additional vertically disposed reinforcing ribs whereby it is enabled to resist extremely heavy strains.

23 designates a wedge which isV positioned in the recess 16, said wedge having a smooth lower edge face 24 riding upon the shoulder or offset 18 vwhich is likewise perfectly smoothfFriction between said offset and the wedge may be further reduced by the use of proper lubricant for the reception of which the recess 2O is provided. The opposed wire engaging faces of the wedge 23 and the overhanging flange 17 are slightly arcuate so that a wire may be effectively gripped therebetween; the engaging face 25 of the wedge is perfectly smooth, while the engaging face 26 of the flange 17 is roughened, as best seen in Fig. 7, in order to take a lirm grip and hold on the wire. The small end of the wedge is formed with an eye 27 with which is connected a link 28, whereby tackle or other means that is utilized for pulling the wire in order to tension the same.' The end of the wedge having the eye 27 is also built up or reinforced to form an anvil 29 which,

view taken on thel The bodyA memif the wedge should become stuck, may be struck with the hammer for the purpose of disengaging the parts without injury.

The body member 15 is provided with apertures 30 for the passage of fastening members, such as bolts 31, whereby a face plate 32 is secured in position, the upper edge of said face plate being spaced from the overhanging flange 17 so as to offer no obstruction to the engagement of the clamp with the wire that is to be tensioned.

The wedge 24 is provided on its rear face with a rib or projection 33 which is positioned in parallel relation to the lower edge of said wedge and which engages the longitudinal groove 19 in the body member, said goove and rib being preferably of rectangul'ar cross section, as shown. When the parts of the device are assembled the rib traveling in the groove serves to guide the wedge and to prevent either end of the wedge from tipping or tilting upwardly, parallel relation being thus maintained between the opposed Vwire .engaging faces of the wedge and the flange 17. rihey rib also serves to direct the end of the wedge formed with the eye 27, in contact with the body member, and limit the movement of the wedge in one direction.

1n the use of the improved device, the wire, cable or other object that is to be stretched or tensioned, is inserted between the opposed faces of the wedge 2li and the flange 17, the wedge being meanwhile positioned at the lower limit of its movement. By pulling the wedge upwardly with respect to the inclined shoulder v18, the wire will be gripped between the engaging faces 25 and 26, the face 25 of the wedge sliding smoothlyover the wire, while the roughened surface of the face Qfwill prevent the body member from slipping along the wire. lncreased pulling strain upon the wedge will serve to proportionately tighten the grip upon the wire, the pulling strain being applied by means of tackle of any description. The construction of the device is of such a nature that a very heavy pulling strain may Copies of this patent may be obtained. for

be employed without danger of buckling or distorting the clamp and without injury to the wire that is being stretched. When the wire is to be released the wedge will usually let gc thereof without difficulty when the pulling strain is interrupted; should it become stuck, however, a tap with a hammer on the reinforced eye portion of the wedge will quickly release and let go of the wire.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A device of the class described comprising a body member having in its front face a longitudinal tapered recess producing an overhanging flangeand a shoulder disposed flange, the bottom of the recess having a longitudinal groove which is parallel to the shoulder, 1n combination with a wedge positioned in said recess and having alongitudinalrrib engaging the groove, the opposed faces of the wedge and the overhanging flange being in parallel relation, and a removable face plate secured on the bottom member to retain the wedge against lateral displacement. j

2. ln a device of the class described, a body member havinga recess producing an overhanging flange and a shoulder disposed couver-gently with relation thereto, a wedge slidably guided on said shoulder with its upper face in 'parallel relation to the overhanging flange, said wedge having at its narrow end an offset forming a shoulder in which is formed an eyevand a projection constituting an anvil, a rib vformed on said wedge slidable in a slot formed in the body member whereby the shoulder is caused to engage the body member to limit its movement in one direction and avfac'e plate. secured on the bodyv member to assemble the wedge therewith.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

Witness HELEN J. POWELL.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, '.D. C.

convergently with respect to said 

